Chalssea Kate Echegoyen

Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano delivers his privilege speech, which he dubbed "Kontra SONA," during the Senate plenary session at the Senate Session Hall in Pasay City on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. In his address, Cayetano responded to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), presenting the opposition’s assessment of the administration’s policies and governance.
Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

PH SENATE- KONTRA-SONA

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Malacañang on Wednesday rejected Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano’s characterization of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta as “political prisoners”, saying the anti-graft court found basis to order their arrest and for the cases against them to proceed.</p><p>In his “Kontra SONA” speech, Cayetano had questioned the fairness of the Marcos administration and said his colleagues in the minority bloc were detained because of politics..</p><p>“Kung iyan po ang kaniyang paniniwala, hindi naman din po siguro ito ang paniniwala ng Sandiganbayan,” Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a press briefing.</p><p>(That may be his view, but I don&#x27;t think that is how the Sandiganbayan sees it.)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/28/cayetano-asks-marcos-pantay-pantay-ba-ang-hustisya-o-selective-justice-tayo-1915">Cayetano asks Marcos: &#x27;Pantay-pantay ba ang hustisya o selective justice tayo?&#x27;</a></div><p>She also stressed that decisions on whether to allow Estrada and Marcoleta to post bail rest with the anti-graft court.</p><p>Castro added the cases filed against the two senators are supported by evidence.</p><p>“Iyong dalawa po na senador ay maaari naman nila itong pasinungalingan habang sila po ang magbibigay ng kanilang depensa.&quot;</p><p>(The two senators can debunk the evidence when they present their defense.)</p><p>She said Cayetano, a lawyer, is free to help defend the two in court since he believes the cases are politically motivated.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/27/-masama-ang-loob-namin-imee-says-some-minority-senators-to-skip-sona-1206">&#x27;Masama ang loob namin&#x27;: Imee says some minority senators to skip SONA</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>MARCOLETA&#x27;S MANIFESTATION</strong></div><p>Castro also questioned Marcoleta’s manifestation before the Senate to seek permission for him and Estrada to attend the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte while in detention.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/22/marcoleta-enters-not-guilty-plea-to-plunder-gift-receipt-cases-0905">Marcoleta enters not guilty plea to plunder, gift receipt cases</a></div><p>“So, if that would be the case at in-allow sila, maaaring lahat ng mga propesyonal na nakakulong habang dinidinig ang kaso ay hahayaan na rin na magtrabaho?” she said.</p><p>(If they are allowed, would others in detention be allowed to work while their cases are being heard?)</p><p>She cited jurisprudence that allow detained lawyers to practice law only to defend themselves and not to represent others. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/21/groups-slam-cayetano-for-labelling-marcoleta-jinggoy-political-prisoners-1449">&#x27;A grave insult&#x27;: Groups slam Cayetano for labelling Marcoleta, Jinggoy &#x27;political prisoners&#x27;<br/></a></div><p>Castro also noted that the Sandiganbayan retains jurisdiction over the two senators while their graft-related cases are pending even if the Senate approves Marcoleta&#x27;s manifestation.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0ZdBr8f5CVI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/08uQDIa4DAI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Malacañang on Wednesday rejected Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano’s claim that Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta are “political prisoners,” saying the courts have a different view of their cases.</p>

Malacañang on Wednesday rejected Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano’s claim that Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta are “political prisoners,” saying the courts have a different view of their cases.

Palace rejects Cayetano’s ‘political prisoners’ tag on Estrada, Marcoleta

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Palace rejects Cayetano’s ‘political prisoners’ tag on Estrada, Marcoleta

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 29, 2026 03:37 PM PHT

Read More:

Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Palace

Claire Castro

Alan Peter Cayetano

Rodante Marcoleta

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